Hit me with your recommendations (Blank Canvas!)

[red cuillen]

I'd stay in Burbank, you can do alot more of LA and Santa Monica/Universal/Warner/Griffith Park from there. Probably getting a bit late now but we took out a few hotel credit cards for the sign up bonuses and bought more points when they had offers on. It meant most of our stays were in holiday inns/hilton/marriots etc but that helped with planning by restricting the choice! The chains often have offers such as stay 3 night get one free which might help you. Can recommend the trip report section, people have done so much in so many different ways.

[KarenG]

I’m a DVC owner and have stayed at the villas at the Grand Californian and personally I would save my money and stay at one of the many ‘offsite’ hotels which are an easy walk to Disneyland (unless you have a decent budget, our trip was 3 weeks and we tried to keep costs down where possible!)

I also love Hawaii - we’ve been twice in the last two years - but it adds a lot of cost and travel time. You’ll lose a day there and a day back once you faff around getting to and from the airports and the five to six hour flight. It’s the most wonderful place I’ve been but we didn’t manage to get there until we’d been to the West Coast a few times.

[jdouds]

Hi again have a look at the yosemite view lodge , one of the nearest hotels that is outside the park. (5 mins to park entrance ) airbnb don't be afraid just look at reviews as you would with any accomodation.

[KarenG]

Originally Posted by jdouds

Hi again have a look at the yosemite view lodge , one of the nearest hotels that is outside the park. (5 mins to park entrance ) airbnb don't be afraid just look at reviews as you would with any accomodation.

See more...

We loved it here. Pretty basic but room was huge and our balcony looked over a rushing river. Despite it being basic it was one of our most expensive hotels that trip (location, location).

[OLS]

great thank you guys - making a note of all these tips / suggestions / recommendations etc and slowly figuring out a sort of itinerary so I can start pricing up various options!

What will the weather be like in August in the various places... I know it changes up / down the coast?